Forged Steel turns in front-running romp in Hollywood Gold Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Flavien Prat expected his Monday flight from New York to Los Angeles would depart on time. The jockey also expected to set the pace on Forged Steel in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup.

The first did not happen. The second produced a front-running romp.

Prat’s departure from JFK airport to LAX was delayed 3 1/2 hours, causing Prat to miss his first scheduled mount Monday at Santa Anita. But Prat arrived at Santa Anita in time to ride Forged Steel in the fifth race.

Good thing. Forged Steel ($8.20) crushed the Gold Cup by 9 1/2 lengths, winning the 1 1/4-mile race in an outstanding final time of 2:01.58.

Malarchuck, the favorite, finished a nose in front of third place McVay. British Isles and Subsanador completed the order in the five-runner field.

Saffie Joseph Jr. trains Forged Steel, who gave the East Coast-based trainer his second consecutive victory in the Gold Cup. He won the 2025 Gold Cup with Skippylongstocking.

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The 2026 Gold Cup field was not particularly strong, but Forged Steel was untested in graded company and the 1 1/4 miles was a question. Forged Steel, who won a second-level allowance mile at Oaklawn Park last out, had finished a creditable third racing a 1 1/2 miles two starts back. Joseph hoped the 4-year-old son of Vekoma could carry his speed.

“We tried him at a mile and a half [third in the Temperence Hill Stakes at Oaklawn], but you still need to see it,” Joseph said after the Gold Cup. “Did we know for sure? No.”

Joseph did not give Prat instructions before the Gold Cup. “With those guys [top jockeys], you just tell them, ‘Ride your race.’ ”

Prat rode his race. “I thought I would be on the lead,” Prat said. “He broke well, I thought he would be a bit quicker from there. But he naturally found himself [on the lead] and travelled well all the way around.”

Forged Steel set the pace while Malarchuk pressed from second position. They went the opening half-mile in 46.73 seconds, six furlongs in 1:11.25 and a mile in 1:35.66. Turning for home, the race was all but over.

“I thought someone could maybe make a run at us, but then I looked at the [infield video board] and I was long gone,” Prat added.

Malarchuk held second, while McVay finished third in a race with little positional change. British Isles finished 27 lengths in front of last place Subsanador, who was eased.

The winning margin was the largest Gold Cup margin since at least 1993. The Gold Cup has been run at Santa Anita since 2014.

Forged Steel has won five races and $416,130 from 18 starts. He is owned by C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable.

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